Hansi Flick impressed by La Masia trio as Barcelona prepare to give youngsters more minutes in England | OneFootball

FC Barcelona’s preseason continues to highlight the strength of La Masia, with several academy prospects reportedly earning greater opportunities after impressing Hansi Flick and the coaching staff during the opening weeks of training.

The latest update suggests that Alex Gonzalez, Ebrima Tunkara and Ibrahim Diarra have all caught the eye with their performances and attitude.

According to journalist Victor Navarro, Barcelona are “very happy” with the level shown by the three youngsters and are planning to reward them with more playing time during the club’s preseason matches in England.

All three players have already made positive impressions since joining the senior squad for preseason.

Tunkara has arguably generated the biggest headlines after scoring against CE Europa and consistently standing out in training despite being only 16 years old.

Alex Gonzalez has also looked confident whenever called upon, while Diarra has continued adapting well after arriving with a growing reputation as one of the club’s most exciting young attacking prospects.

With several senior internationals only recently returning from their summer break, Flick has relied heavily on academy players throughout preseason. Those who have responded well are now expected to receive additional opportunities over the coming days.

Flick is creating a genuine pathway

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect is that these appearances do not feel like symbolic preseason minutes. Flick has consistently shown that if young players perform well, they will continue receiving chances regardless of age.

Barcelona’s recent success has been built around trusting academy talent, with Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and others proving that quality ultimately matters more than experience.

That should motivate players such as Gonzalez, Tunkara and Diarra. Strong performances in England will not guarantee first-team places this season, but they can strengthen their position within the club’s long-term plans.

For Barcelona, preseason is about far more than fitness. It is an opportunity to identify the next generation ready to make the jump, and early signs suggest Flick believes this latest group has the talent to keep pushing toward the first team.